A thought by Max Lucado (2011-05-02)
from his book, Cure for the Common Life (p. 6). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to
go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)
I know that may not make sense but read
on.
Max says, “He conducts holy business at
all hours and in all places. He uncommons the common by turning kitchen sinks
into shrines, cafés into convents, and nine-to-five workdays into spiritual
adventures.”
He goes on, “Workdays? Yes, workdays.
He ordained your work as something good. Before he gave Adam a wife or a child,
even before he gave Adam britches, God gave Adam a job. ‘Then the LORD God took
the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it’ (Gen.
2:15 NASB). Innocence, not indolence, characterized the first family.”
We had a great few days of leisure with
our family. Margaret and I then had a
few day of relaxation at home. It was
great. But God didn’t create us to sit
home and watch TV all day. Now I’m a
retired but I still work. I don’t get
paid for it in money but I know have a task that God has given me to do. I have purpose every day to do fulfill my
task that God has given to me.
Max says, “God views work worthy of its
own engraved commandment: ‘You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you
shall rest’ (Exod. 34:21 NASB). We like
the second half of that verse. But emphasis on the day of rest might cause us
to miss the command to work: ‘You shall work six days.’ Whether you work at
home or in the marketplace, your work matters to God. Your ability unveils your
destiny. And your work matters to society. We need you! Cities need plumbers.
Nations need soldiers. Stoplights break. Bones break. We need people to repair
the first and set the second. Someone has to raise kids, raise cane, and manage
the kids who raise Cain.”
He then says, “imitate God. Jehovah
him-self worked for the first six days of creation. Jesus said, ‘My Father
never stops working, and so I keep working, too’ ( John 5:17 NCV). Your career
consumes half of your lifetime. Shouldn’t it broadcast God? Don’t those forty
to sixty hours a week belong to him as well? The Bible never promotes
workaholism or an addiction to employment as pain medication. But God
unilaterally calls all the physically able to till the gardens he gives. God
honors work. So honor God in your work. ‘There is nothing better for a man than
to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good’ (Eccles. 2:24 NASB).
So how is your attitude toward your
work?
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